Burglar and fire alarm



Jan. 31, c w BOWEN BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Filed March 14, 1930 5Sheets-Sheet l IS nventor /zarlw h ille'am Bowen attorney! Jan. 31,1933. c w BOWEN 1,895,967

BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Filed March 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [III/[IA ill/III!!!llllllllllllllllllllllell' v Imventor attorney Jan. 31, 1933.

C. W. BOWEN BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Filed March 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Monitor 672'aria mlZz'am/flowen (Tum-new Patented Jan. 31, 1933 CHARLESWILLIAM nowmr, or AUGUSTA, GEOR IA BUBGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Applicationfiled March 14, 1930. Serial No. 435,894.

The present invention relates to burglar and fire alarms and has for itsprimary ob ect to provide a simplified yet reliable alarm which may beoperated mechanically as well as electrically, thereby insuringitsoperation in the event of failure of the electric current.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a burglaralarm which Wlll give an alarm both locally and at a distance as forinstance, at a'telephone exchange or police station.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a mechanicallyoperated alarm of compact design which is durable and reliable inoperation," and in which readily accessible means are provided forcontrolling auxiliary signal-ling devices.

Other objects and dvantages of the invention will be apparent from'thefollowing description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings; in which Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view showingthe mechanically operated alarm inits relation with the auxiliarysignaling devices associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the alarm proper.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3.-3of Figure 2,partsbeing broken away. i

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 .of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of thealarm, parts being broken away; and

Figurefi is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the mechanism for lockingand releasing the alarm.

Referring to the drawings in more detail the numeral 1 indicates a room,store, or the like, in which the novel burglar and fire alarm may bemounted, and in which the primary alarm is indicated by the numeral 2.The numeral 3 indicates a safe, vault, or the like, and in frontthereof, preferably flush with the floor, is h-ingedly mounted aplatform 4. Disposed below the platform 4 are I a pluralityof springdevices 5 which normally support the platform in horizontal sition. Alsodisposed below the floor is a chuck or .the like 6 secured to the upperend of a pivotally mounted lever 7 and which is adapted to be movedunder the platform 4 to support it against depression during the day.\Vhen the store or other building in which the alarm is installed isclosed, the chuck is removed to the position shown in dotted lines, sothat the platform will be caused to descend when anyone steps on it.

Connected with the platform a is a cord or the like 7 connected with alatch 8. This latch 8 is slidably mounted in a bracket 9 and normallyengages one end of a slidably mounted plunger-'10 which isspring-pressed toward the latch as by means of spring 11. The rod 10 isconnected by means of a string or the like 12 with a trigger 13 mountedon the side of the casing of the alarm 2.' This trigger 13 serves tonormally retain a springpressed lever 14 in its retracted position, butwhen drawn to inoperative position by the mechanism just mentioned 'itreleases the lever 14 and allows the same to depress a fin er 15 on adetent hereinafter described which normally maintains the alarminoperative. Also connected with trigger 13 is a cord or the like 16which may be directed over suitable guide pulleys to extend across theentrance to the store or the like, and has its-opposite end secured to awall of the room. 1 Of course, any number of these cords 16 may 'beemployedand extend across the room or store at advantageous positions,as before a window or otherpoints of access to the store.

"In order that the finger 15 of the detent for the alarm may beautomatically operated in the event of an abnormal rise in temperaturein the store, such as caused by a fire, a sprmgpressed lever 17 ispivoted on the side of the alarm'casing 2 adjacent the finger 15 and isnormally retained in inoperative position by means of a-wire or otherflexible cable 18. This cable has its opposite end anchored at somepoint in the store, and, of course,'additional cables with additionallevers 17 may be employed and extend to other parts of the building asfound desirable. These cables are provided with fusible links 19suitably spaced throughout the length thereof and which are adapted tofuse at about 160 de grees F.,=thus-.releasing the lever 17 and cansingit to depress the finger to sound the alarm.

he primary alarm which has been referred to by the numeral 2, is shownin detail in Figures 2 to 6 inclusive, and comprises a gong which isadapted to be struck repeatedly by a clapper 21 pivotally mounted on theexterior of the casing as indicated by the numeral 22. The arm of thisclapper is provided with teeth 23 adapted to cooperate with anescapement wheel 24 of usual construction. This wheel is mounted on ashaft 25 extending to the interior of the casing 2 and provided adjacentits lower end with a gear wheel 26. Meshing with the gear wheel 26 is agear wheel 27 mounted on a vertically disposed shaft 28. This shaft alsocarries a gear wheel 29 which in turn meshes with a large gear wheel 30fixedly secured to a centrally disposed shaft 31. Also secured to theshaft 31 is a coil spring 3-2 which has its outer end secured to thedriving gear Wheel 30 of the train of gearing just described. Shaft 31is also preferably provided with a worm gear 33 cooperating with a worm34 mounted on a shaft 35 which extends exteriorly of the casing toreceive a crank or other tool for winding up the spring from time totime as may be found necessary. The spring 32 is preferably of suchdimensions and power as'to cause the gear train and likewise the clapper21 to be operated for a period of at least twenty minutes.

The escapement wheel 24 is normally retained against operation by meansof a detent 36 mounted on a slidable rod 37 supported in bearing 38 andterminating in the finger 15 heretofore referred to. This finger 15 extends outwardly of the casing 2 through a vertically disposed slot 39.This rod 37 is normally retained in its uppermost position with thefinger 15 in engagement with the upper wall of slot 39 by means of aleaf spring 40 mounted within the casing 2. The spring-pressed leversheretofore referred to and indicated by the numerals 14 and 17, aremounted on shafts 41 and 42 which extend inwardly of the casing and eachof these shafts is encircled by a coil spring 43. One end of each of thecoil springs 43 is secured to the inner wall of the casing 2 asindicated by the numeral 44, while the opposite end thereof is securedto a disc 45 which is releasably secured to its shaft by a removable pin46. It will thus be apparent that by removing the pin 46 from either ofthe discs 35 the latter may be rotated about the shaft to increase ordecrease the tension in its respective spring 43.

The alarm as just described is, of course, mechanically operated and isintended as the primary alarm of the system. However, additional andauxiliary alarm or signaling devices are also desirable in such systems,and in order to operate such auxiliary devices there is shown herein anarm 47 provided with a hub 48 rotatably mounted on an axle 49 disposedupon the top of the casing 2. Encircling the rod 49 is a coil spring 50having one end anchored to a disc 51 fixed to the hub 48 and theopposite end secured to a ratchet wheel 52 loosely mounted on the rod49. A spring-pressed pawl 53 normally cooperates with the ratchet wheel52 and holds the same against rotation in a clockwise direction. The

ratchet wheel 52 is provided with a hub 54 which terminates in a squaredportion 55 extending beyond the body of the alarm casing 2. This squaredportion 55 of the hub 54 is adapted to receive a crank arm or the likefor storing up tension in the spring 50 or for increasing the tensionfrom time to time as found desirable.

The arm 47 is normally retained in its retracted or inoperative positionby means of a slidably mounted latch 56 which engages over the arm 47and which is provided with an operating handle 57 extending through aslot 58 in its casing 59. The rod which constitutes the latch 56 has itsopposite end mounted in a casing or bearing member 60. Fixed to the rod56 is an abutment 61 against which presses a coil spring 62 and whichhas its opposite end in engagement with the adjacent end of the casing59. This spring tends to withdraw the latch 56 from engagement with thespringpressed arm 47 but is normally prevented from doing so by means ofa rod 63 which is slidably and tiltably mounted in a bearing 64 on theside of the casing 2. The upper end of this rod is normally disposed inalignment with the latch rod 56 and therefore prevents longitudinalmovement of the latch out of engagement with the rod 47. The oppositeend of the rod 63 is pivotally connected to the springpressed lever 14and it will be apparent, therefore, that when the lever 14 is releasedso as to sound the alarm the upper end of the rod 63 will be withdrawnout of alignment with the latch 56 and thus allow the spring 62 towithdraw the latch, thereby releasing the arm 47. The arm 47 is thusfree to rotate about its axle 49; such movement being imparted theretoby the coil spring 50. In order to limit the extent of rotation of thearm 47 about its axle 49, the arm is provided with an extension 47 whichis adapted to engage a hook or stop 47 and thus limit the movement ofthe arm 47 through an arc of about 180 degrees.

The auxiliary alarms or signaling devices heretofore referred to areindicated in the present embodiment of the invention as a telephonereceiving set 65, and an electric display sign 66, the latter beingdisposed on the exterior of the building and normally concealed as bymeans of a pivoted cover 67. In some instances it may be desired to takea picture of the burglar or other inthe room be lighted, and to this endtruder, and for this purpose I have shown a camera 68 preferablysupported on a bracket 69 and directed toward a point in front of thesafe 3. For the practical operation of the camera it will, of course, benecessa that provide a switch 7 0 in the electric light circuit of theroom and whichswitch is also connected in the circuit in which theelectric sign 66 is connected.

Each of these auxiliary signaling or alarm devices is connected up withan individual operating means substantially identical with the operatingmeans 8-91011 heretofore described in connection with the platform 4disposed in front of the safe 3. Inasmuch as these operating devices areidentical only one need be described in detail. Each operator comprisesa bracket 71 mounted adjacent the particular signaling device with whichit is associated together with a slidably mounted plunger 72. Theplunger 72 is provided with a fixed collar 73 against which abuts a coilspring 74 encircling the plunger and having its op osite end inengagement with the end 0 the bracket 71. The projecting end of theplunger is'connected by means of a cord or the like 75, with theoperating handle of the camera, display sign cover, telephone set, orelectric switch, as the case may be.

Each plunger is normally held in inopera-e tive position with its spring74 compressed by means of a trigger a 76 which is slidably mounted inthe end of the bracket. Each of these triggers 76 is connected by meansof flexible cords or the like 78 with the free end of arm 47 and it willbe obvious, of course, that when the arm 47 is released in the mannerheretofore ,described,the cords 78 will be placed under a tension suchas to withdraw the triggers 76. The removal of the triggers 76 fromtheir respective brackets will, of course, release the operating pluners for the several signaling devices and t us render them operative;that is, it will close the lighting circuit in the room as well as thelighting circuit in the display signal 66, open the cover 67, raise thetelephone hook so as to flash a signal at the central telephone ex--change, and likewise operate the trigger of the camera 68 to cause thefilms therein to be exposed. In this connection it may be mentioned thatthecamera 68 may be of the type in which a series of pictures are takensuccessively. It may also be 7 mentioned that where the alarm isconnected up with the telephone receiving set, the police station willbe provided with a series of telephone numbers and the addresses of theseveral patrons so that when the telephone number is transmitted to thepolice station by the telephone operator they will be immediatelyapprised as to the particular establishment in which the alarm has beensounded.

In lieiiof the electrically operated sign 66 it will be obvious that asign provided with a phosphorescent coating may be provided inconjunction with the cover 67 for display purposes on the exterior ofthe building.

While I have shown herein, in addition to the mechanically and thermallyoperated audible signal, a plurality of auxiliary signaling and alarmdevices as already described, it is to be understood that all or any ofthese auxiliary signals may be employed as desired. Thus, if the audiblesignal alone is to be used the rod 63 may be disconnected from thespring-pressed lever 14, thereby rendering the latch 56 inoperative andcausing the arm 47 to remain in its inoperative position in engagementwith the hook or stop 47 The operations of the several parts of theapparatus have been fully described in connection with the detaileddescription of the construction, and further elaboration thereof isbelieved to be unnecessary.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I havedevised a comparatively simple yet durable power plant and mechanicallyoperated burglar and fire alarm; that combined therewith are a pluralityof auxiliary indicating and signaling devices operated from a singlearm; and that such devices are so designed and combined with the primaryalarm as to admit of their use or their disconnection very readily andwithout in any way jeopardizing the reliable operation of the mainalarm.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described What I nowbelieve to be the preferred embodiment of the invention but I do notwish to be understood thereby as limiting myself or the scope of theinvention, as many 0 anges and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention; and all such I aim toinclude within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A burglar alarm including a mechanically operated bell, a detentnormally rendering said bell inoperative, a spring-pressed lever adaptedto release said detent, a reciprocablymounted rod having one end pivotedto said lever, a spring-pressed arm pivoted adjacent said bell, adisplay sign, means connecting a portion of said sign with thespring-pressed arm, a latch for said arnr, a spring tending to withdrawthe latch from the arm, said reciprocably-mounted rod adapted tonormally engage said latch to counteract the action of said spring, andto release the latch when reciprocated by said spring-pressed leverCHARLES WILLIAM BOWEN.

